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Secondus cautions against rigging, plunging nation into crisis

By Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti), Oluwaseun Akingboye (Akure), Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos) and Ahmadu Baba Idris (Birnin-Kebbi)
15 January 2019   |   3:14 am
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, against rigging the elections for the All Progressives Congress..

[FILE PHOTO] PDP chief, Uche Secondus<br />Photo: Twitter/UcheSecondus

• APC prepared to steal votes, PDP presidential candidate alleges
• Don’t repeat 2015 mistake, Saraki tells Nigerians
• Atiku promises peace, security in Plateau as Kebbi PDP assures of victory

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, against rigging the elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC).He said should they insist on going ahead with their alleged rigging plans, they might plunge the nation into crisis, adding that they should be held responsible if anything untoward happens in the country.

“The PDP demands one man, one vote and a free, fair, credible election. We say no to rigging because all rigging plans will fail,” he stated.
Secondus insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari was too weak to rule the country, saying, “We need an energetic President who can work 24 hours a day and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is the man who can do that.”

He, therefore, urged Ekiti people and other Nigerians to vote PDP Atiku Abubakar, adding: “Our economy collapsed and hunger is in the land. President Buhari is a sleeping President, he has no energy, that is why the economy has collapsed, we are coming with Atiku, who has energy and can work 24 hours a day.”

Speaking, Atiku accused the APC of stealing the people’s mandates in the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections.He said the APC has not been campaigning because their alleged penchant for stealing mandates saying, “They stole the mandate of the people in Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Bauchi, they even stole in Kastina their home state.”

Also speaking at his campaign in Akure, Ondo State, Atiku raised the alarm that the APC is making every effort to rig the 2019 general elections. He stated this yesterday during the presidential election campaign in Akure, the Ondo State capital, urging voters to be watchful and vigilant during the election next month.

He lamented that the Federal Government led by the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari has the country into more hardship, insecurity, economic woes and loss of jobs. The former Vice President noted that while PDP and other opposition parties were busy campaigning to take power, the APC administration was busy scheming and perfecting ways to rig the polls and return Buhari for a second term in office.

Responding, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, urged Nigerians not to repeat the mistakes of 2015, stressing that the political elite and masses made a mistake by supporting the ruling APC and President Buhari in the 2015 general elections. He berated the APC for failing its campaign promises to Nigerians, lamenting that the Buhari-led administration has failed woefully in security, economy and employment for the youth population.

Atiku, who also spoke in Jos Plateau State, assured that he would restore peace and security in Plateau State if elected president.He said he would brainstorm with traditional, religious and community leaders to ensure restoration of peace and unity so that the state will continue to be the economic hub of the Middle Belt.He stated this yesterday while addressing party supporters at the Polo Field, Jos, at his campaign rally.

According to him, the PDP government will ensure the provision of jobs for the jobless, while those who could not work would be empowered to run their own businesses. Atiku urged the people of Plateau to vote out the APC and ensure that they protect their votes at the polling units, as the APC wants to steal their votes.

Speaking, Ofodile Okafor (SAN), noted that it was sad that the Federal Government was willing to usurp the constitutional duty of other arms of government, which he said, portended anarchy and should be resisted.He stated this in reaction to Justice Walter Onnogen’s arraignment by the Conduct of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Okafor told The Guardian that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to try him (Onnoghen) or other judicial officers without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC).Meanwhile, Kebbi State PDP has described the recent defectors from the party as angry politicians, and promised to deliver the state for Atiku and Issa Galaudu. Its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ibrahim Umar Ummai, said the defection of some members was not a setback for the party, but a plus because they were the minority in the party.

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